This is a guest post from TampaBayScene’s Ariel Chates.
Oh, the Oscars. The epitome of Hollywood glamour and arguably the most famed award show on Earth. And what would the Oscars be without fashion? According to some people, it might be better.
This year’s Academy Awards has come with as much buzz about the red carpet interviews as the movies. The mani-cam, which was created to let celebs “strut” their fingers and show off their manicures and jewelry, has been classified by New York Times writer Cara Buckley as simply more “pageantry” that female celebrities have to put up with on the red carpet.
After Julianne Moore and Jennifer Aniston refused to partake in this mani-cam, the idea was ditched for the Oscar preshow carpet and celebrities including Reese Witherspoon have taken to Twitter to spread the hashtag #AskHerMore.
I like the idea that reporters should have a better variety of questions to ask, but I just can’t seem to get on board with the idea that focusing on the gorgeous gowns is somehow “sexist.”
Via: CTV News
The “pageantry” of the red carpet has gained criticism in regards to reporters constantly giving all their attention to what the female celebrities are wearing rather than the work they have accomplished that year.
Miss Witherspoon emphasized the monumental feat of 44 female nominations, and how her hope is to shift the media focus to their acting triumphs rather than jewels and gowns, because “it’s hard to be a woman in Hollywood.”
Reese, I hear ya — Hollywood has a bad track record with sexism, but I just don’t feel that bad that you’re being subjected to the “Who are you wearing?” question in your couture (possibly gifted) dress and thousands of dollars worth of diamonds.
Cara Buckley, who covered this same topic in the New York Times perfectly summed it up: “It may be hard to drum up much pity for gorgeous, highly paid famous women.”
Again, I get the sentiment; women are more than their clothes. The idea that women are taken at face value over real value on the daily is not a lost cause or a fight to give up on, but in this regard, the “choose your battles wisely” saying just won’t leave my head.
If you truly only care about the artistry, wear jeans and a T-shirt. Seriously — I dare you.
I know the #AskHerMore campaign runs far deeper than simply hating on the fashion police, but I think the actresses pushing for this movement are also forgetting that in doing so they are demeaning a whole other group of people: fashion designers.
Via: Today Cut
Please save your eye rolls. I know fashion designers probably rank a close second to celebrities in the order of who in this world deserves any sympathy, but taking a stance at someone else’s expense is just as tacky as the reporters who fawn over the “glitz and glam”.
Take Lady Gaga’s dress for instance. This was a custom made Alaia Azzedine dress that took 25 people 1600 hours to embroider (for one woman…for one night). Granted, Gaga went above and beyond to make this fact known, but for the red carpet feminists dodging the question, they are ignoring the months of hard work that went into the creation of one of a kind gowns and selfishly denying designers the credit they deserve.
Via: PopSugar
Reese and the other celebs using #AskHerMore may not realize that an unfortunate repercussion of this “movement” is the snobbish attitude it is showing towards the hard working men and women who slaved over the clothes on their back.
Who are they to say that fashion falls below acting?
If Carolina Herrera takes the time to sketch you a custom made gown to wear on the red carpet at no cost, she damn well deserves a shout out.
All this being said, gender equality and sexism in Hollywood is an important issue and should be addressed, but let the red carpet be what it’s about: beautiful clothes! There is no shame in admiring the works of art (yes, art) that very talented designers have created just for that night.
So the next time a celebrity (I’m looking at you Reese) wants to get snippy with a reporter asking about their outfit, they better be wearing a paper bag.
Featured image courtesy of: New York Times
